'Gentlemen we have a thief among us' (Porridge - Series 2 (DVD))

Member Name: Maximus-Qualitus

Product:	Porridge - Series 2 (DVD)
Date:	20/09/09 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: VERY FUNNY

Disadvantages: NOTHING

Porridge
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Written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais.

This is my all time favourite comedy.

Set in prison you might think it a dour and confining place to make a comedy but with superb writing, comic genius and superb character acting from a class team of actors, you end up with a true classic that will absolutely stand the test of time.

Let me take you on my appreciation tour of PORRIDGE.

Time line:
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It all began on the 1st of April (aptly enough) in 1973 when a pilot aired on the BBC called 'Prisoner and Escort'. It followed Norman Stanley Fletcher being escorted to Prison by Mr McKay and Mr Barrowclough.
Fletch had stolen a lorry load of 'booze' and was being transferred from Brixton to the 'Wilds' of Cumbria. Along the way he manages to Pee in the fuel tank causing the van to 'conk' out. He spends the cold night running around the fells thinking he has escaped from Barrowclough only to find he has run round in a circle.
But from this point on McKay dislikes fletch whist 'Barra' sees him as a likeable rogue.

A year and a half later Series 1 was launched and the rest is history.

Setting:
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"Norman Stanley Fletcher, you have pleaded guilty to the charges brought by this court, and it is now my duty to pass sentence. You are an habitual criminal, who accepts arrest as an occupational hazard, and presumably accepts imprisonment in the same casual manner. We therefore feel constrained to commit you to the maximum term allowed for these offences -- you will go to prison for five years".

Slade Prison: (Actually, Frontage of Maidstone Prison)
Here we find an eclectic band of the oddest and funniest criminal characters your will never see again,

Fetch played by Ronnie Barker
Was a career thief with a heart of gold, a light fingered angel as he was once described. Just wants to serve his time and get out. Quick witted and devilishly clever and pulling 'fast ones' and driving the neurotic Mr McKay round the bend.

Godber played by the magnificent Richard Beckinsale
Was a one time house breaker who on his first robbery, the flat next door to his fiancée, Denise, got caught by a burly lorry driver and in his own words "came home unexpectedly and kicked me head in". He is taken under Fletch's wing and between the two of them make the entire series simply wonderful.
(Sadly he died suddenly in 1973 of a heart attack, at home, aged only 31)

Mr McKay played by Fulton Mackay
Was the no nonsense Scottish prison officer who holds no grudges and treat everyone with equal contempt. If he is unhappy he makes everyone down the line feel his wrath. Mellowed near the end of the show and even seemed to have a little respect for Fletcher having seen how he looked after Godber.

Mr Barrowclough played by Brain Wilde
Was the kindly prison officer lacking in any kind of self confidence. He always gave the benefit of the doubt and often had his wallet or watch pilfered. A likeable and kindly face in a hostile environment.
His wife kept leaving him for the milkman but sadly kept coming back.

Bunny Warren played by Sam Kelly
Was the illiterate idiot who was often the but of many jokes and never understood any of them. He was on slightly smarter than Mr Hislop who would make a brick wall look clever.
Bunny was an innocent thief, whose wife kept his picture on top of the telly,
Bunnys wife: "You know the one where those coppers where arresting you, I cut them off the picture but left the police dog on because I know how fond of animals you are" !!

'Jock' McClaren played by Tony Osoba
Was the black Scot with more than a few chips on his shoulder in fact he had a whole sack of spuds on his. He had been treated badly his whole life and punched first rather than be punched first. He was used ostentatiously for black related jokes and used when a hard man was needed for the plot.

Ives, aka Horrible Ives played by Ken Jones
He was hated by prison officers and prisoners alike and was often found lurking around and he was always up to something. At one point he became Harry Grouts runner, but this didn't stop everybody hating him.
He started nearly ever sentence with the words " Ear Listen" and was often referred to by Fletch as that Scouse git.

Lukewarm played by Christopher Biggins
Worked in the kitchens and shared a cell with 'Old Blanco' whom he treated like an old uncle. Just as well really as Lukewarm was gay. He seemed to be the only gay in the prison! A wonderful gentle character who starred in many, many scenes with Fetch and Godber. The butt of many gay jokes, well it was an unenlightened 1973 onwards.

Old Blanco played by David Jason
Originally convicted for the murder of his wife but as it turned out after being pardoned he in fact did not kill his wife!
He killed her lover instead!
A great character and superbly played by Jason

Harry Grout played by Peter Vaughan
'Genial' Harry Grout actually ran Slade prison although the Governor thought he did?
His job inside was to look after the swimming pool which was an easy job, as the prison had no pool! A typo error apparently.
His bodyguards where Samson and Delilah, who got their names, Samson for his incredible strength and Delilah for her striking resemblance to Hedy Lamarr.

Governor Venables played by Michael Barrington
The most weak knee'd, lily livered, ineffectual governor ever to have run a prison. More interested in animals than the men and had a liking for tropical fish.

This single DVD
Contains all 6 episodes from the 2nd series which are:

It oddly, also contains the pilot episode, (which you might think they would have put at the start of the first series DVD?)

* Prisoner and Escort
There's more than petrol in the prison van by the time Fletchers fiddled with it. A great start and launch pad for a Classic comedy series.

1. Just Deserts
The mystery of the disappearing tin of Pineapples. Fletch is miffed when the tin goes missing from his cell, 'Gentlemen we have a thief among us' he tell his cellies.

2. Heartbreak Hotel
Gober get dumped by his fiancée, Denise, but then falls for Fletchers daughter, Ingrid.

3. Disturbing the Peace
A new P.O. arrives, Napper Wainwright and he is a right B/tard, so the prisoners have a food fight to get back McKay, better the devil you know.

4. Happy Release
Whilst in hospital Fletch help Blanco get hie meagre belonging back from Norris whilst setting him up to dig up the pitch at Leeds United ground.
A great episode this one.

5. The Harder they Fall
Godber has taken up boxing and he must take a dive but his opponent is also taking a dive, the only question is who will hit the canvas first?

6. No Peace for the Wicked
Fletch tries to get some peace and quiet but is constanly disturbed and finally cracks and throws the chaplain over the balcony.


There is the usual racial jokes, sexual innuendos (this was the 1970's) and of course genius comic timing to compliment the superb writing of Clement and La Frenais.
It was successful because of not only the writing, not only the comic genius of Barker and Beckinsale but because of all of the supporting cast.

From Mr McKay, Mr Barrowclough etc but the secondary cast of Reg Urwin 'with a U', The Honorable Mr. Justice Stephen Rawley, Cyril Heslop, Banyard the defrocked dentist, Ingrid, fletchers daughter, and many others.
This is a program that will never fade with time.

Picture and sound quality are excellent and the small amount of extras is just about enough.

Extremely, highly, recommended.

DVD Info
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Language English
Region: Region 2
Number of discs: 1
Classification: PG
Run Time: 210 minutes
ASIN: B00006G9VK

Hope you enjoyed,

Greg.

Summary: TIMELESS AND WORTH YOUR TIME TO REVISIT